Morocco: ”Terrorist” cell dismantled

Published January 4th, 2007 - 20:45 GMT

Moroccan security forces have dismantled an Islamist cell recruiting volunteers to fight in Iraq and detained 62 people, the government said on Thursd

Moroccan security forces have dismantled an Islamist cell recruiting volunteers to fight in Iraq and detained 62 people, the government said on Thursday. "The first elements of the inquiry reveal the existence of ideological links with and financial and logistical support for international terrorist groups," it said in a statement, cited by Reuters.

Those groups included al Qaeda, the Algeria-based Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) and other international terrorist organisations, it added. All those arrested were Moroccan.

In the summer of 2006, the Moroccan authorities said it had broken up a cell planning to declare a Jihad in northeast Morocco, attack tourist sites and assassinate people who symbolise the state.

The government statement said those arrested in the latest round-up would be brought before judicial authorities in line with Morocco's anti-terrorist laws.